From: ur-valhalla!iquest.net!lindat (Linda Thompson, American Justice
Federation)
Subject: New Jersey "Privately run" jail
Message-ID:
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 95 13:32 EST
As part of "disarmament," defense contractors throughout the United
States are building, and running, jails and prisons. Many jails are
now privately operated.
One of the major contractors is Wackenhut, a corporation based out of
Coral Cables, Florida, with offices throughout the world. Wackenhut
guards many of the government nuclear facilities throughout the U.S.,
providing "paramilitary" guards.
Many cities have contracted their police services out to private
contractors as well, such as can be seen in L.A. at the Hollywood and
Vine area ("Patriot" security).
Here is but one result of the militarization and privatization of
formerly municipal law enforcement functions:
AEN NEWS
October 13, 1995
By RAVI NESSMAN
Associated Press Writer
ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) -- Six jailers are charged in the beating and
torture of 25 immigrants put in their custody after a June riot to
protest miserable conditions at another detention center.
Two dozen handcuffed illegal immigrants arriving at the Union
County Jail were forced to run a gantlet of two dozen officers who
punched and kicked them, acting prosecutor Edward M. Neafsey said
Thursday. He said the guards made the aliens say "America is No. 1."
The immigrants were then strip-searched, and some had their faces
shoved into toilet bowls, he said. One inmate's pubic hair was pulled
out with pliers another had his collarbone broken, he said. Six
officers were charged with official misconduct. All were released on
$50,000 or $75,000 bail.
"Not all of the officers were involved in the beatings, but the
officers do have a duty to come forward and report what they
observed," Neafsey said. The charges carry a sentence of five to 10
years in prison, which couldbe doubled if a bias motive is proven,
Neafsey said.
Union County Manager Ann Baran said she would move to suspend the
officers.
Anthony Pope, attorney for two of the officers, said the
prosecutors' case "is not as strong as they say it is. We're very
confident of vindication."
Authorities said they interviewed 24 of the 25 immigrants detained
in the jail for three days following the June 18 riots at Esmor
Detention Center. They all told similar stories though several spoke
different languages. More than 300 illegal aliens housed at Esmor
while their requests for asylum were being processed overpowered
guards and vandalized the center to protest abusive conditions. The
center, which was run by a private company under contract with the
government, was closed after the disturbance.
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